Faces of Calvary: Meet Deb & Carol

Deb Jones

I have been married to my husband, Aaron, for 30 years.  We met in Bible College.  We have three grown children, Rachel, Caleb and Gabriel.  Rachel is married to our son-in-law, Dylan.  My greatest blessing is that they all know Jesus!

Share a core childhood memory and a bit about your younger years and places you’ve lived

I grew up on a farm in southwestern Minnesota where my family has lived for over 120 years.  I loved being outside and tried hard to be involved in all the aspects of farming, especially the animals.  I grew up riding and showing horses.  One of my favorite memories is winning a high-point trophy at a horse show.  Barrel racing was my favorite thing to compete in with my horses. 

What is one important skill every person should master?

The most important thing people can learn in 2024 is to be content in the quiet.  Getting off of/putting down the phone is so difficult for many people.  They become agitated and have anxiety if they are not “doing” all the time.  We need to learn to embrace silence and learn that it is not only okay but beneficial to be quiet.  

Name two things you consider yourself to be very good at.

Piano!  I have loved the piano and played for the last 46 years. God has given me a talent that could only be from Him.  I am entering my 39^th year playing in God’s churches and am so happy to be able to use my gift for Him.

This may shock some people, but I am also good with handguns.  I am a part of a women’s group called Lipstick and Lead.  We not only learn how to be safe and accurate with our handguns, but compete against each other monthly.  I feel very strongly that women need to be aware of their surroundings and not to become a victim.  We have women in the club who have been victims and do not want to go through that again.  It is not for everybody, but my time at the gun range is special.  The gun range has been a great place to minister to women as well!  I love it!Piano!  I have loved the piano and played for the last 46 years. God has given me a talent that could only be from Him.  I am entering my 39th year playing in God’s churches and am so happy to be able to use my gift for Him.

When was the last time you did something for the first time? What was it?

I went back to school in my late 40s and began a new career.  I am a medical coder for Olmsted Medical Center.  It is a great job. 

Just a few weeks ago, I started harp lessons.  Never too old to learn!

What is something you have that is of sentimental value?

My father, who passed away in 2005 from colon cancer, always kept a diary.  I have his diary collection dating from 1965 until his death.  One of my favorite entries is on my birthday in 1971:  The whole page is filled with farming details, which pig farrowed, etc.  At the very bottom of the page it says, “baby born, 8:10 p.m.”  😊  My dad was the most patient and kind person I think I have ever known. I miss him. 

Favorite bible verse? Psalm 73:28 (NASB)  The nearness of God is my good. 

The psalmist in the beginning of Psalm 73 has confidence in God but talks of his inner conflict watching the wicked prosper.  How difficult it is to see that the wicked always seem to succeed!  Charles Spurgeon speaks of the psalmist being in awe at the fate of the ungodly (v18-20) The psalmist then ends by saying, “The nearness of God is my good”.  I want to always remember that God being near is the best thing for me, no matter what prosperity others seem to have. 

What are your three favorite smells?

Horses, lilacs and old books. 

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Carol Holland

Hello! I’m Carol Holland. I’ve been attending Calvary since April 2018, when we moved to Rochester from Pearland, Texas (near Houston). I’m married to Rob, and we’ve been married for 22 years; this is a second marriage for both of us. I have two children from my previous marriage of 23 years. Rob and I moved here to be closer to my daughter, Sarah, and her family. Sarah and Jason have four children: Haley (15), Alyssa (13), Noah (4), and Erica (2). Their family is the light of my life. I spend a lot of time at their home each week watching and playing with the two younger kids while my daughter homeschools the two older girls. We’re so blessed to have this opportunity to live close to our grandchildren during this phase of our lives. Sarah and Jason joined CEFC last year, and it’s been nice attending the same church. My blessings truly overflow.

I also have a son, Brian, whose family moved from San Antonio to West Bend, Wisconsin eight years ago. With both of my children now in the “north country”, it didn’t make sense to stay in Texas. Brian and his wife Kaila have four wonderful boys, ages 9-16. We don’t see them nearly enough. Their family stays busy with sports, scouts, and camping. I’m happy to say that both Brian and Sarah are raising their children in the church and the children love Jesus.

I grew up in New Jersey and was the oldest of four children. I was blessed to be in a wonderful Christian home and grew up in the EFC church. I accepted Christ as my Savior at the age of 12 at a week-long Christian camp in upstate New York. In high school, we moved to Florida and then Texas. I married an Army officer at the age of 21, and the moving never stopped. I’ve made 18 major and 6 minor moves. I’ve lived in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey (twice), Florida, Texas (four times), Maryland (twice), Germany, Thailand, Kansas (four times), and Minnesota. I’ve enjoyed living in so many parts of the world and seeing so much in the areas where we lived.

My hobbies include reading, antiquing, being a grandma, traveling and horses. Our household includes Rob and I and our two small dogs, Annie and Gracie. We adore these two little pups and laugh at their antics every day. They also serve as grandkid magnets! My husband Rob and I have been married for 22 years. Rob was also in the Army as a military lawyer and judge. After Rob’s 30 years in the Army, we moved to Houston so that he could teach in a law school there.

After going on many trail rides while traveling, my husband suggested I take lessons. Well, at age 65 I did just that. I was lucky to foster a horse for 6 months from Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch. When it was time to return him, my husband got me my own horse, Irving, for my birthday in 2021. I loved spending time out at the stables, grooming and riding Irving. Having my own horse was a dream come true.

In September 2021, I was riding with a friend, and it was both the best and worst trail ride I’d ever been on. I had a bad fall off Irving and was unconscious for a bit. Long story short, I broke my pelvis in four places and had a concussion. I had surgery that day to find my internal bleeding and to insert a rod through my leg to stabilize my pelvis. I had surgery to repair my pelvis the next day and stayed in St. Mary’s for two weeks and then moved to a rehab facility for four weeks. I was unable to put any pressure on either leg for three months. Afterwards, I had to do PT to re-learn to walk. My biggest take-away from this whole experience was seeing how God watched over me and how blessed I was to be able to walk again. I had so many people, like neighbors and people from CEFC, care for me and visit me, send cards and flowers, bring meals, and more. The love I felt from so many people was amazing, and I was truly blessed by so many. I could feel God’s hand in my recovery. One of my favorite verses, especially during this time, is Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” I thank the Lord each day for His many blessings and his watchful care over me.